Class Policies

Class Policies

The Pre-Professional Program, Student Productions and other Academy offerings may have additional policies outside of those listed here. Please refer to your admissions packet once fully registered for any of our program offerings.

COVID-19 Policy

If you wish to cancel for a reason other than a confirmed case of or exposure to COVID-19 in the household, you must notify Adventure Theatre MTC in writing at least 30 working days prior to the start of the registered session in order to receive a tuition refund minus the non-refundable deposit of $250. If you need to switch to a different session, we will try to accommodate your request according to space availability.

  • Please contact the Academy Registrar (registrar@adventuretheatre-mtc.org) to inquire about switching camp session registrations.
  • If ATMTC cancels in-person camp for any reason prior to the start of camp, you will receive a full refund.
    Approved refunds (minus the deposit) may take 6 – 8 weeks to process.
  • For COVID 19 specific refund information, please visit the page for the in-person program for which you are registering.

REGISTRATION

Registration for all ATMTC Academy offerings is made directly through/with ATMTC. Registration is available online at www.adventuretheatre-mtc.org.

  • ATMTC’s Academy does not accept registrations by walk-in, fax, phone, or mail. Students are enrolled upon receipt of online registration and payment.
  • You will receive registration confirmation via email.
  • No further notification will be given unless a class is filled or cancelled.
  • Classes fill quickly. Register at least one week prior to the start of the class.
  • Questions about the ATMTC Academy registration/offerings can be answered by the registrar.

Late Registration

Late registrants may enroll online, space permitting, up until one week after the start of the course at a non-pro-rated amount. Placements for students registering late for dance and voice is at the sole discretion of ATMTC.

Payment

  • Tuition and administrative/registration fees are due at the time of registration for all classes.
  • Your canceled check, charge card statement, or email confirmation will serve as your proof of payment.
  •  Additional documentation, such as flexible spending account receipts will be issued upon completion of services rendered within five (5) working days of receipt of a written request.
  • A $35 insufficient funds fee will be assessed for any returned checks.

PAYMENT PLANS

ATMTC offers an optional monthly billing payment plan when total tuition fees exceed $600.00 in one single online order. An additional administrative fee may apply. Please contact the registrar for more information.

DELINQUENT ACCOUNTS

ATMTC reserves the right to suspend or discontinue instruction of any student who is delinquent in fulfilling his/her financial obligations at any time during a semester.

FINANCIAL AID

Limited financial aid may be available for ATMTC’s Academy in special economic circumstances. Please call ATMTC to request an application or email ATMTC’s Education Director to apply. You will be required to submit your most recent tax form as part of the application process. Students of appropriate age may be requested to perform minimal work-study in exchange for aid.

INTERNSHIP/WORK-STUDY

A limited number of internship and work-study positions may be available. Please refer to our website’s Career’s Page for more information.

REFUNDS

ATMTC does not provide refunds, partial or full. Credits may be issued to qualifying students if the registrar is notified in writing no later than fourteen (14) business days before the beginning of the scheduled class. Any credits issued must be used before the end of ATMTC’s calendar year, or before August 30th. Unused balances may also be converted to a tax-deductible charitable donation by request.

  • Should a conflict occur before a scheduled class begins, students may transfer into another section of the same level class at the discretion of ATMTC.
  • If the student drops a class at any time, pro-rated credits for other classes will not be issued.
  • Families on the payment plan will still be responsible for the remaining balance on their account.
  • Families withdrawing from Academy offerings who receive financial aid, may be billed the full tuition amount.
  • Refunds will not be issued by ATMTC for student absenteeism or discontinued participation except in extraordinary cases of a full withdrawal of a child from a semester or class due to prolonged physical injury or illness. These exemptions are at the sole discretion of ATMTC staff.
  • These extraordinary case requests for a refund must be made in writing to ATMTC and be accompanied by a physician’s note.
  • Refunds may be pro-rated from the date ATMTC receives the doctor’s notification.
  • Approved refunds (minus the class administrative/registration fee) may take 6 – 8 weeks to process.
  • A $35 administrative fee will be charged for all withdrawal/change notices resulting in a refund.

REFUNDS FOR SPECIAL WORKSHOPS (including School’s Out!)

ATMTC does not offer refunds either prior to or on the day of the event for any reason, including illness of a child. Should your child become ill on the day of an event, please keep them home and contact ATMTC’s registrar to assist in crediting your tuition amount towards the next Workshop date, subject to availability.

ATMTC will honor one change request based on availability. If a parent wishes to move a student to a subsequent School’s Out! session or event they should notify the registrar in writing no later than 2 (two) business days prior to the event. If further changes are requested, a $5 dollar fee for each additional change will apply.

REFUNDS FOR SUMMER PROGRAMS

If you wish to cancel, you must notify Adventure Theatre MTC in writing at least 30 working days prior to the start of the registered session in order to receive a tuition refund minus the non-refundable deposit of $250.

If you need to switch to a different session we will try to accommodate your request according to space availability. Please contact the Academy Registrar (registrar@adventuretheatre-mtc.org) to inquire about switching camp session registrations. Approved refunds (minus the class administrative/registration fee) may take 6 – 8 weeks to process.

REFUNDS FOR ENSEMBLES AND STUDENT PRODUCTIONS

 There are no refunds for withdrawal from Ensembles and Student Productions.

SAFETY & ETIQUETTE EXPECTATIONS

All students will be expected to behave according to basic safety and etiquette rules set forth by their Teaching Artist/Instructor and ATMTC staff on the first day of class (or via a welcome email from your Teaching Artist/Instructor prior to the first class).

A verbal warning will be given for the first infraction and a formal written warning will be issued to the student and parents after the second infraction of these rules. After repeated infractions or if a child’s behavior becomes a safety concern or impedes the class from functioning harmoniously or as a whole, ATMTC reserves the right to discharge the child from further participation in the class without a refund.

PICK UP/DROP OFF

Students must be picked up immediately after the conclusion of class at the end of their final class of the day. A parent or guardian should come inside to meet their child. If other arrangements are needed, please send a note authorizing ATMTC to release your child. Students may not loiter unnecessarily.

  • If a child is left in our care for more than ten minutes at the end of the day, a late fee will be charged for every ten minutes until the child is collected.
  • If a student is left in our care for more than one hour past closing time, and we are unable to reach any of the emergency contacts, which the parent has provided, the local police will be notified.
  • All classes require a sign in and sign out. Students between the ages of 12 months and 8 years of age should be signed in an out by a parent or guardian. Students aged 9 and above can sign for themselves.
  • We invite the parents to stay for the first ten minutes of the first meeting of our classes to meet the teacher and ask questions.

LIABILITY

ATMTC is committed to conducting all programs in a safe manner and holds the safety of participants in the highest regard. ATMTC continually strives to reduce risk and insists that all participants follow safety rules and instructions that are designed to protect their safety. However, students and parents/guardians of minors must recognize that there is an inherent risk of injury when choosing to participate in physical activities. You are solely responsible for determining if you or your minor child/ward is physically fit and/or skilled for the activities contemplated by this agreement. 

  • It is always advisable, especially if the participant is pregnant, disabled in any way, or recently suffered an illness, injury or impairment, to consult a physician before undertaking any physical activity. 
  • Teachers should be made aware of any physical problem that would affect a student’s ability to take class. Programs are intended to challenge and engage the physical, mental and emotional resources of each participant. Despite careful and proper preparation, instruction, medical advice, conditioning and equipment, there is still a risk of serious injury when participating in any physical activity/program. 
  • In this regard, it must be recognized that ATMTC is NOT responsible for any injury incurred on or off premises of the facility.

PEANUT ALLERGY

In the event of a child attending any day-long or extended event with a previously known peanut allergy, ATMTC will notify all students to pack lunches that do not contain peanut butter or nut products as well as products whose labels state that the product “may include peanuts” or was “processed in a plant containing peanuts,” and provide a peanut-free lunch table.

ATMTC requires students to wash their hands frequently and never provides any snacks that may contain peanuts.

Dismissal and Absenteeism

DISMISSAL

ATMTC reserves the right to dismiss any student due to frequent absences, disciplinary problems, overdue tuition payments and/or parental noncompliance with ATMTC policies.

LATE ARRIVAL/EARLY DISMISSAL

Late arrival to/early dismissal from class is discouraged. See absenteeism, below. A late arrival/early dismissal is defined by ATMTC as arriving late to any segment of rehearsal or class, including roll call/warm up. Two late arrivals/early dismissals will count as one absence.

ABSENTEEISM

In the event of any student absence, please notify the registrar or stage manager in advance. ATMTC does not offer compensatory lessons or classes for absences and/or missed lessons that occur because students have conflicts, travel out of town, etc. or due to illness.

  • Repeated absenteeism can be cause for dismissal from the Academy offering and is at the sole discretion of ATMTC staff.
  • While absenteeism is discouraged, students participating in Academy offerings whose session meets more than 12 (twelve) times are allotted two (2) absences (excused or unexcused). Students missing more than the allotted absences may be dismissed from participation at the sole discretion of ATMTC without refund.
  • An Absence is defined by ATMTC as missing a class or rehearsal for any reason, whether excused or unexcused. For the sake of the policy, no distinction is made between excused or unexcused absences.

ILLNESS

In the interest of the overall safety of our students, in the event that your child becomes ill, ATMTC asks that you refrain from allowing your child to participate in our programming until 24 hours after their fever has broken or until 72 hours after the child has seen their physician and/or received antibiotics.

If ATMTC closes to prevent the spread of the flu or for any other reason, ATMTC will offer an additional class on Make-Up Day (see below).

MAKE UP DAYS

Make-up days are built into each semester’s class schedule. In the event of a cancellation due to inclement weather, instructor illness, Glen Echo Park closings or for any other reason emanating by ATMTC, these make-up classes will serve as a replacement for any regularly scheduled missed classes. Prior notification will be given if and when this make up day will take place.

  • Make-up classes will not be held in order to accommodate any classes missed by a student for personal reasons, family scheduling conflicts or general student illness.
  • ATMTC will only offer one make-up class per semester. If more than one class is cancelled per semester due to inclement weather or for any other unforeseen reason, only one make-up class will be offered as compensation. We thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation.

Cancellation and closing

CALENDAR

ATMTC Academy observes the following holidays in keeping with the federal holiday calendar: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

It is the responsibility of the student and parent to be aware of all Academy activity schedules as listed on our website such as school closings, rehearsals, holidays, and performance dates.

Cancellation

ATMTC reserves the right to cancel any class with insufficient registration. Tuition and registration fees will be refunded for any Academy programs that are canceled by the ATMTC.

CLOSING/INCLEMENT WEATHER 

Adventure Theatre MTC Academy generally looks to MCPS and/or Glen Echo Park closing in inclement weather as to whether it will cancel classes. If a class is cancelled for any reason, the ATMTC Registrar will send an email to participants. Updates can also be found on ATMTC’s website, the Academy phone number, as well as on our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages. We always encourage you to check our website first for the most up-to-date cancellation information.

Placement

ATMTC strives to provide the highest quality training and instruction. Proper level placement helps avoid discouragement and disappointment in students and allows them to work with others of similar skills and abilities.

All placement decisions are at the sole discretion of the ATMTC staff. Parents and students with concerns regarding level placement should make an appointment to meet with Academy Staff and their instructor or Director for an evaluation.

DANCE CLASS PLACEMENT

Dance placements are required for all students. Dance students will be required to attend placements upon staff request and will be assigned placement by ATMTC staff.

  • ATMTC’s placements are based on professional opinions, the student’s capabilities, and demonstrated growth and individual student’s technical achievement.
  • Placements during the year are made via recommendations in writing from instructors.

OTHER ACADEMY PLACEMENT

Students participating in introductory level acting, voice class, music, musical theater classes, special workshops and summer programs will be placed and accepted according to their age and/or grade level without exception.

VOCAL STUDIO POLICIES

Students must commit to 8 consecutive weekly sessions at a designated time when placed with an instructor.

  • One conflict within this 8 week time frame that is cited and disclosed to the registrar at the time of registration can be rescheduled. All other scheduling conflicts that render a student incapable of attending their regularly scheduled session will not be rescheduled or otherwise compensated.
  • Diagnosed illness, preventing a student from attending their regularly scheduled session, may be rescheduled at the discretion of the ATMTC staff, and as available only when accompanied by a physician’s note and recuperation instructions.
  • In order to retain or create a recurring weekly time slot, returning students must re-register for additional 8 week sessions no later than week 6 of the current 8 week session.
  • In the event of instructor illness or conflict, resulting in ATMTC cancelling a scheduled lesson, an additional 30 minute session will be scheduled on your behalf, to take place by the end of the 8 week commitment.
  • Parents of voice students must attend the first ten minutes of the first voice lesson with a new instructor to go over individual student needs, goals and studio policies.

CASTING

One of the primary goals we strive to impress upon the students participating in ATMTC programs is that “There are no small parts, only small actors.” ATMTC encourages teamwork, corporation and generosity of spirit from its participants.

  • As a parent of ATMTC students, please be supportive of our philosophies: While every student who participates in the extensive audition/selection process may appear in a Student Production, all casting decisions are at the sole discretion of the ATMTC staff and artists.
  • All casting decisions are final and non-negotiable.

STUDENT DRESS CODE

For the safety of all students, student performers will be required to adhere to the dress code per the chart below. These dress codes will be strictly enforced.

  • Students not appropriately dressed as listed below will not be permitted to participate in class and will be asked to remain at the perimeter of the space to observe.
  • Other than official ATMTC Academy branded items, clothing with vibrant or oversized logos and catchphrases or slogans are not permitted on any dance attire.
  • No bare midriffs, gym shorts, jewelry, hats or baggy clothing are permitted.
  • Students are required to provide their own dance shoes and dance attire.

Ballet

Male

  • Black ballet shoes
  • Fitted Black shorts, form fitting capri pants or black tights (no jazz pants)
  • Fitted black or white t-shirt

Female

  • Pink ballet shoes
  • Pink tights
  • Black leotard
  • Optional: black dance shorts or pink dance skirt

Jazz

Male

  • Black slip-on jazz shoes
  • Fitted black shorts or jazz pants
  • Fitted black or white t-shirt

Female

  • Black slip-on jazz shoes
  • Fitted black dance capri pants or jazz pants
  • Black leotard or black fitted top that completely covers midriff.

Tap

Male

  • Black tap shoes
  • Fitted black shorts or jazz pants
  • Fitted black or white t-shirt

Female

  • Black tap shoes
  • Fitted black dance capri pants or jazz pants
  • Black leotard or black fitted top that completely covers midriff.

Hair longer than two inches in length pulled back and/or secured away from face.

LOST OR STOLEN ITEMS

ATMTC is not responsible for any lost or stolen items left in the facility.

INSTRUCTOR SUBSTITUTION

 ATMTC reserves the right to substitute an instructor temporarily or permanently without prior notification.

PHOTOS/VIDEO

ATMTC reserves the right to use photos or video recordings taken during the course or a program or class for promotional purposes only.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS, TELEPHONE AND EMAIL

Please notify ATMTC in writing of any address, phone or email changes. ATMTC is not responsible for lost or undeliverable mail or email.

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY 

 ATMTC complies with all laws prohibiting discrimination in the conduct of its operations and programs. The Academy admits students of any religion, race, sexual orientation, color, national and ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of religion, race, sexual orientation, color, national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, financial aid or other school administered programs.